Chapter 42

Willow grunts as Reiner pulls her into a tight hug, drawing her from her sleep when he embraces her. He presses his warm body against hers, entangling his legs with hers and the thin sheets between them. She groans as he nuzzles next to her, burying his face in the crook of her neck as he smiles against her skin. "Guess what today is?" he asks her in the rough tone of his morning voice.

"Too early," she grumbles and he smiles against the skin on her neck.

"It's the festival," he whispers, kissing behind her earlobe as his hand trails down her stomach and over her hips. Willow pushes her lower back against him in an attempt to push him away, but this only riles him up even more. "Come on," he encourages her. "I told you about this back in Paradis, but this year they're going overboard with the Tyburs in town."

She turns to him, eyes lidded and heavy with sleep, but her blue orbs still search for him and look onto his golden gaze. "You've never had ice cream before," he says with a wide smile on his face. "You're going to love it," he promises her as he twists himself on top of her.

After a lot of begging and waking Willow up by other means, Reiner is finally able to get the curly haired blonde out of bed and dressed for the festival. She walks with him in the streets, her head flying back and forth as she takes in every foreign sight around her.

Banners and flags decorate the streets for the festivities as merchants call out to her, holding various baked foods and sweets that attack her senses. Her eyes widen at her surroundings as she is overloaded by everything around her. She hugs herself closely to Reiner as they walk the streets of Liberio. She looks up at him to see a faint smile painted on his face as he finds himself at peace in this moment.

They locate Gabi and the others in the streets as they run from merchant to merchant with wide eyes that survey every possible delicious discovery in front of them.

Willow approaches the young Warrior Cadets as Gabi launches herself at Willow with an excited yell! "Can you believe all of this? Try this!" she says shoving the frozen cone in her mouth.

Willow pulls away from Gabi, licking up the sticky cold dessert from her lips. "Oh wow," she widens her eyes as her tastebuds burst. "What is that?"

"It's ice cream! But I've never had some this sweet before!"

She looks up at Reiner with glistening eyes and he smiles at her with knowing eyes, already heading to the merchant to buy her a cone before she can even ask.

They continue to walk the streets as Willow happily licks her dessert. Her head continues to dart back and forth between each stand that beckons her with an intoxicating scent. She looks around when she notices Felix with his girlfriend buying some pastries. She smiles happily at him, waving energetically and he does the same.

She approaches him and he introduces her to his now fiancé and informs her that they are expecting a child together. Willow's heart warms at the news and the brunette thanks Willow for all she did on the field to keep her fiancé safe from the enemy soldiers.

She leaves them to the rest of their night and returns to the group to see that Porco and Pieck join in their festivities. Willow watches as the four children look at each stand hungrily, only to be disappointed at their empty coin purses from overspending on the desserts.

The four children look at the four adults expectantly, and Willow, Porco, and Pieck all slip their glances, leaving Reiner standing before them alone. He turns back at Willow's smile hidden behind her face as he has no other choice but to pay for their food, else suffer the enlarged saddened eyes that will follow.

Reiner is dragged from food station to food station where everyone gorges themselves on whatever Reiner buys for them. Willow, Porco, and Pieck even end up joining, taking food for their own and forcing the blonde to pay for them as well.

Reiner growls as he's taken on the role of banker in this sense, not enjoying the food for himself as his coin pays for everyone else. But he finds himself grinning at the infectious smiles and laughter of his friends around him.

He watches as Gabi and Zofia giggle at Udo and Falco for eating too much and upchucking in the trashcans while Willow rubs their backs comfortingly. He watches her gentle touch as she soothes the boys through their sickness, then gives them water once they're finished.

He's never seen this side of her, knowing her to be ruthless, and dedicated—and protective sure—but never motherly as she is to the small boys. He smiles at the softer side of her, seeing the happiness in her eyes that he's never seen from her. He's seen her happy before, but seeing her now… she's blissful.

Once the boys are finished throwing up, they are suddenly ready to eat more, despite Willow's concerns, and they continue to shop at the local food merchants. The kids continue to push food in Willow's mouth to try, since she's not from Marley and all this food is foreign to her. Despite her continuous attempts to nicely tell them she's full, they continue to press her to try more food.

Pieck watches with Reiner as the kids all pile around her, calling out to her from all angles and overwhelming her with their need to be the center of her attention. Pieck giggles as they pull her in all directions to join them. "She's really good with them," Pieck says to Reiner, who watches them.

"Yeah," he states, "But they need to give her a break," he worries.

"I am sure she doesn't mind," she tells him with a smile on her face. Her eyes turn to Reiner who smiles softly at the blonde woman. "I like her," Pieck tells him and he looks down at her with a curious lifting brow. "She's good for you," she explains.

"Uh…" Reiner unlaces his arms over his chest, lifting his hands up in surrender, "I don't think you—"

"I know, Reiner," she smiles at his feeble attempt to claim nothing is happening between the two of them. "I knew back on Paradis before you two probably even knew," she laughs whimsically. "She makes you happy and you do the same for her. I don't see why you should hide something like that."

Reiner lowers his arms, crossing them back over his chest, a prominent frown now on his face. "My term's up before hers. There's not much of a point to make something of it."

Pieck shrugs, "All the more reason to, the way I see it," she advises him as he watches the blonde's large smile that reaches her eyes. "No one is stopping you. I like her, Porco can say what he wants, but he won't get in the way, and who cares what the brass thinks? You two fought together for four years to build this life for Marley. It's time you enjoyed yourselves."

"The operation to Paradis…" Reiner lingers, unable to even think how it will even pan out.

"Will go as any other mission you two faced together. Only this time you will have Porco, and Zeke, and me right there with you," she assures him but he knows that those on that island are nothing like they've faced before.

The night begins to fall and the kids are crashing and burning into the ground from how much food they devoured. Zofia and Udo's parents pick them up while Gabi and Falco stay with them all until nightfall.

They meet with Colt who is characteristically far too drunk to stand, and Porco tells them he will help him home while they fallow behind. Gabi is slinged on Willow's hip as she holds the lifeless girl in her arms. Her head is slugged over her shoulder and down her back as her arms hang weighted and slacked on each side of her. Meanwhile, Reiner holds Falco on his back, wrapping the boy's legs around his waist as his arms hang around his shoulders with his head tilted on the back of Reiner's neck, snoring softly.

They reach the Griess family home where their mortified mother and father thank the three of them for bringing their boys home. Their mother smacks Colt across the head for getting too drunk again and he grumbles an incoherent complaint.

Reiner takes Gabi into his hands, holding her like a baby against his chest, unbothered by their transfer and remains sleeping softly in his arms. Porco parts from them and they wave at the sandy blonde as he makes his way for his home.

Willow and Reiner continue walking in silence, with upward grins caught on their lips from the happiness of the day. Her cheeks ache from smiling and laughing so much, having not remembered the last time she was in such positive spirits.

The three of them reach Gabi's home and Willow knocks on the door to their apartment. To their surprise, Karina opens the door and welcomes the two in. Willow steps in, with Reiner to follow, allowing Gabi's mother to direct him to her room where he places her softly into the bed and tucking her under the sheets.

Karina turns to the two of them, seeing their good moods spilling from their faces. "Reiner," she says softly, turning to her son. "Will I be expecting you tonight? Your bed remains untouched since your return," she says in a tone that Willow chooses to ignore.

"I need to walk Willow home," he tells her with a smile, despite every time he 'walks' her home, he ends up staying the night. It's clear his mother understands what's transpiring between the two of them, and she is far from happy about it.

Before she can refute, Reiner turns from her and they leave the family with a departing wave. Once they are on the street, Reiner laces his arm around Willow's waist; an act of public affection that he's never done before. She smiles at his touch, leaning her head against his chest and allowing him to pull her closer.

"I don't think your mother likes me," Willow says, breaking the silence between the two of them.

"You don't say," Reiner jokes smugly and she huffs at his response. "Can't imagine," he begins, "Having your son leave at the age of twelve, only to return a grown man, and with a woman, no less."

"I can't imagine allowing your twelve-year-old son to leave for war," she offhandedly adds, and Reiner chooses to ignore her response.

"She'll get over it," he tells her and Willow figures that she will, since the likelihood that both of them will return unscathed from the Paradis mission is highly improbable.

They enter her home and take off their overcoats and boots at the entrance. Willow asks Reiner if he would like some tea and he shakes his head, moving towards her bed. He unbuttons his shirt, removing it and tossing it to the chair next to the bed. He groans as he moves to his pants, pulling at the legs of the fabric as he sits on the mattress.

Once he is in nothing more than his underwear, he lays down on the bed with a moan, allowing his body to decompress and sink into the mattress as he looks up at the ceiling.

Willow joins him, removing her clothes and leaving herself in nothing but one of his undershirts and her underwear. She joins him in the bed, digging her feet into the mattress as she kicks under the covers. She looks up to the ceiling, trying to see what possesses Reiner's gaze.

"Why did you say they are already here?" he asks her and she glances over at him with confusion lacing her gaze. "You said 'assuming that they haven't already arrived here', which insinuates that you think they are already here."

Willow turns her head back to the ceiling, enthralled by its texture. She doesn't want to tell Reiner she believes that she saw Eren in the courtyard of the hospital. That couldn't have been him, and worrying him with a paranoia will only cause him more harm.

"I don't know if they are already here," she tells him, unsure how true that is. "But it would be what I would do if I were them," she continues honestly. "It's been more than four years since the battle at Shiganshina. We left them crippled and defenseless, but the brass never let us return to finish them off. In that time, they could have formed an army, they could have found a way across the sea. You know Eren better than me, but I know he is very similar to me. And I would never stop thinking about getting revenge."

Reiner tightens his jaw, still unable to look at her as he thinks about the three years that she plotted her revenge against the Levi Squad. There were so many earlier times they offered to strike against them, but she was vehement on training her body, improving her hardening skills, and extended her range on her scream. It wasn't just about killing her old Squad; it was about making Erwin look like a fool, and dismantling the Scout's trust in his ability to lead the soldiers effectively.

She plotted out every possible outcome and alternative to the mission that she could have thought to ensure that she would not fail when she decided to execute it. And despite how much he would like to think that Suicidal Maniac is impulsive and reckless, he's not idiotic. He is passionate and he is unquestionably conspiring his next move against them; coming up with the best plan to destroy everything that Reiner holds dear. His only concern now is when the fool will enact his plan, and he can only hope that they attack first.

Reiner pushes the thought out of his mind, relishing in the false sense of security that he's safe drive his waking thoughts until he no longer is. He turns to Willow, grabbing hold of her body and pulling her towards him. He presses her against his chest, hugging her as closely to him as he can while he crushes her in his arms.

She rests her head on his chest and he buries his nose in her unruly hair, taking in the intoxicating floral scent he has branded as hers. "There is going to be a play tomorrow," he tells her. "All the important diplomats of the world are going to be there to see it. Willy Tybur is going to be speaking, and it's rumored it's going to be about Eldia's aggression against Marley."

"Sounds riveting," she deadpans, feeling the upward lift of his lips against her scalp as he smiles at her comment.

"I'd like to escort you, as my date," he tells her in a rough tone and she looks up at him. He pushes a stray golden curl behind her ear. "I'll pick you up at six, then maybe later we can slip away and go to the Sea for a night swim?" he suggests and she smiles, turning her face back down to his chest.

"I'd love that," she tells him as they lay there, bodies tangled around one another as the lifting and falling of Reiner's chest rocks Willow to sleep.

The following morning Willow spends most of the day running errands and paying off the medical expenses of Felix and Henri. She heads to the hospital, looking for the soldier on the bench, but the bench is empty and she shakes her mind of the delusion that it was Eren.

She decides to head home as the sun begins setting and she gets ready for her date with Reiner. There is not much she can choose to wear, as a strict dress code is imposed on Warriors. So, she chooses her typical olive-green skirt, tucked in white button-up shirt, and off-white overcoat. She slips on the red armband that brands her as a filthy Eldian. She shakes her head, Honorary Marleyan.

She keeps her hair down, as Reiner has mentioned before that he likes her unruly hair when its down, but she brings a ribbon to tie her hair back when they escape for a night swim. The idea tantalizes her and she eagerly waits to escape the night with him.

Willow glances down at her wrist watch, and to her surprise, Reiner is late. He's normally on time, if not early to any arrangements that he sets up, and she wonders where he is. She impatiently waits for him, pacing the confines of her small apartment as she chews at the bud of her nails. She wonders why she is so nervous for tonight. She has been intimate with Reiner for almost two years now, so why does the idea of a public outing with him frighten her so much? Or is it even that that's unnerving her?

Willow flics her wrist once more, noting that the play is starting, and Reiner has not shown up. She figures he must have forgotten to pick her up and is waiting with the others, so she decides to head out, no longer feeling like anxiously waiting in her apartment any longer.

She locks the door behind her and heads into the cold streets of the night. She hugs herself closely as she rubs her palms over her arms in an attempt to warm herself up. She tightens the belt on her overcoat and begins walking towards the center of the Internment Zone where the play is to take place.

Willow can see the lights from the play in the horizon, and can barely make out the sound of Willy Tybur's amplified voice, but she can't distinctly make out anything he says.

She continues walking towards the stage when she hears roaring applause and figures that she must have missed the whole play. She frowns at the realization and she wonders where Reiner could have been the whole time. She can't imagine that he would stay through the whole show without coming to find her. She ponders if any of the other Warriors question where she is and why she is late. They seemed to make a big fuss about this show and everyone showing up, so she can't imagine they wouldn't care to know where she was.

She takes in a deep breath and before she can exhale, she hears it.

The zipping.

The crying of metal against metal.

That unmistakable sound.

She shutters, head shooting to the sky and when she's met with the image of soldiers flying in ODM gear, her entire body collapses in shock.

No. It can't be.

She watches with her mouth left agape to the sky as she loses her hearing and nothing but the deafening sound of wires crying out above her violates her senses.

Before she can think to run or think to cry, her body jumps at the sound of an explosion coming from the stage. She shakes, legs locked and unmoving as her eyes shoot to the sky focusing on the roaring Titan that bursts through the apartment building with an ear-piercing howl.

No… They're here.

Willow can't move. No matter how much she wills her body to press forward, her legs are stiff and she doesn't move. A whine lifts from her throat as she hears the woeful cries of panicking civilians screaming in the horizon. She needs to do something. She needs to be the savior that she was on the field.

She shakes her head, finally getting control over her body and lifts her hand to her mouth. However, before she can bite down and call upon the Female Titan, her arm is bumped harshly as the hordes of frightened civilians begin running past her to flee the area. She cannot call upon into the Female Titan with this many people around, as the transformation alone will obliterate half of them.

She is pushed around as people press passed her frozen body in the middle of the street. Her eyes are fixated elsewhere, no longer seeing Eren, or his Titan, or the Scouts, or even the people that frantically run around her. She isn't even sure what she sees as her mind is completely and utterly blank.

"Ma'am!" she hears someone cry out, and when their harsh grip is around her arms shaking her back into consciousness, her eyes finally focus on something.

"Felix?" she questions, looking onto the man as confusion laces her eyes.

"Ma'am what are you doing? You'll be trampled!" he cries out to her with a single wild fearful eye.

Her eyes focus on the feral look on his face; the uncultivated fear that comes before every battle. Realization finally strikes her as if she were hit across the face and she's finally aware of her surroundings and circumstances.

Her arms grab hold of Felix's tightening grip on her as she looks onto the man with a desolate glare. She digs in the pockets of her overcoat until she finally finds the keys to her apartment. "Go to my apartment," she begins with quick frantic words. "There is a wooden box underneath my mattress. You'll find enough coin there. Get your family, and get the fuck out of here!" she commands him. "Go as far as you can go, as far as the money will take you, but get as far away from the Sea as you can travel!"

"Willow—"

"Please, Felix" she begs him with a feral look in her eyes. "Please take this," she says shoving her key in his hands. "Take this and run far away from here! Go, Felix!" she yells at him, pushing him away from her when her legs finally begin to move.

She doesn't hear fighting and she wonders where Reiner and the others are, but she pushes past the frantic crowds that move against her as she tries to move towards the stage and locate the other warriors. Eren has assumed his Titan form, but he is the only Titan out there. She listens for another transition, looks into the sky for another crackling bolt of lightning to challenge him, but there is none.

Where the fuck are the others?

Willow growls to herself as she pushes through the crowds of people that flee the stage and will her away from the fight. The Scouts are here to aid Eren in destroying this town, so that means that Mikasa and Levi will be around to support anyone who chooses to attack him. She can't assume her Titan form to challenge Eren, while also trying to focus on keeping Levi and Mikasa off of her nape.

A full-frontal assault is not smart considering the other warriors are incapacitated somewhere; so, her only hope to regain her false reality that she was safe from this all, is to somehow stay undercover and annihilate the Scouts.

A/N: How do you think this showdown is going to go? Curious to know what you all think and how your feel about the story so far! Let me know as I always love reading your reactions!